Well the Alonso/Lotus rumours are only coming from Bild and Will Buxton (who I assume heard it from Bild), but from what I hear Spanish media claim to have heard nothing of the sort.
I hear Vettel is getting bored of winning at Red Bull and wishes to do a 'Schumacher' with Caterham.......... *checks Bild to make sure we get source creditation for the 'info'*
I hear Ferrari are taking a look at a young British driver in Formula Nippon called Tim Piadeshu (hint: it's an anagram) Seriously, I still wonder if Alonso will actually be on the grid next season and if he is I still doubt it will be for Ferrari (even if he is contracted for at least the next two seasons). I don't care about the noises coming out of the Ferrari camp - Alonso at the moment is just bad PR. Ferrari are backing him publicly because he is currently their only option for taking down Vettel and because they are still, by some miracle, in second in the Constructors' and Alonso is their best bet for maintaining that. Beyond this season is a different matter entirely, especially given that Alonso has openly (and unsuccessfully) been courting Red Bull. Given that apparently even Ferrari's extremely rabid fanbase is beginning to be turned off Alonso, some big decisions have to be made. It would cost Ferrari money to buy Alonso out of his contract but it will cost them Constructors' points to keep a team-mate that fits his strict criteria. Plus, if rumour is to be believed, they still harbour hope of one day signing Vettel and/or Newey.
BBC reporting that Raikkonen is the favourite to join Alonso: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24016050 Journalists use 2007 as a way of convincing themselves that Alonso will never become teammates with another top driver. So when Raikkonen is rumoured, they convince themselves that Alonso not be there - we've all heard the rumours - Alonso to Red Bull, Alonso to Lotus, Alonso to take a sabbatical, even Alonso to bloody McLaren! Alonso might prefer Massa to Raikkonen, but that doesn't mean he will leave if Raikkonen arrives. and if ever in doubt:
Buxton's said his source is German, so Bild sounds like a fair guess. Alonso to Lotus, taking Santander with him, and Lotus guaranteeing his salary. That would blow the driver market wide open.
Lotus have a decent car but money issues, unless Alonso take's a stupid amount of money with him from Santander then will it make that much of a difference in them being able to invest a serious amount of money in continued development of the car throughout the year.. also, they've lost Alison to Ferrari, you'd think Alonso would give it one more year under the new Ferrari management team and see how that pans out.. Nothing against Kimi, really like him but was hoping someone like Hulk would get a seat there (Ferrari), who know's if the above rumour is true, it could still happen.
Hulk would be a good replacement for Raikkonen and will save them a big chunk in salary. Can't see Alonso going over to Lotus as if they can't afford Kimi, they won't be able to afford Alonso who i can't see taking a pay cut just to get out of Ferrari, unless he is paid off (which is unlikely) as it would have to be his choice to leave. Why would Ferrari (as opposed to jsut Alonso) not want Kimi & Alonso in the same team? Would easily be the best pairing on the grid.
Now that Hulk is being talked about as a Raikkonen replacement, his decision to move to Sauber rather than Mclaren seems to make somewhat more sense.
Half of me thinks all this fuss about Alonso and Ferrari is nothing but then again Monza has been and gone and nothing has been announced. Something is up at Ferrari, it may be unrelated to Alonso but something is very up with them. Are drivers turning them down, that would be a shock to the system for them.
I'd only assume the cream of the crop "might" turn them down, the ones in the tier below the top four would most likely jump at the chance at driving for Ferrari..
